People's Daily
July 24, 2000

Ethiopia's Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO) announced on Monday that it has suspended its Secretary-General Kuma Demeksa and three others from membership of the Organization's Central Committee for corruption, anti-democratic practices and abuse of power.

The OPDO said in a statement that the suspended central committee members are prohibited from attending any forum representing the organization.

It noted that the Ethiopian central state of Oromo, administered by the OPDO during the past ten years, has witnessed high level corruption and mal-democratic practices.

The people in the Oromo state could not enjoy the benefits gained through the bitter struggle due to corruption, nepotism and anti-democratic tendencies practiced by high level officials, added the statement.

The OPDO is one of the alliance organizations that form the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, which also includes Amhara National Democratic Movement, the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Front and the Tigray People's Liberation Front.

Earlier in June, the OPDO Central Committee sacked Ethiopian President Negaso Gidada from his membership of the committee because he "opted for anti-democratic ways to distract the activities of the organization."